Starting as a Mechanical Hunter

Chapter 842: Chapter 10: The Key to Civilization

At the moment when several main races were staring at each other, cracks appeared on the surface of the black shadow, as if something was about to burst out from within.

”Messenger.”

”I must say, although the cosmic relic of this Cyber Test Field is theoretically of a creator type, its avatar does seem a bit domineering.”

Although severely injured, the black shadow spoke in a relaxed tone, seemingly unconcerned.

”Messenger, you know about the cosmic relic; why isn’t the Supreme Being behind you interested in it?”

”The reason is simple: the Dominators of ancient civilizations perceive time differently than we do. They are willing to spend billions of years creating an environment for the birth of a cosmic relic, but for us, just the thought of that time scale is already long enough, and who knows how many more interstellar time must pass before this cosmic relic might be born.”

The few ’main races’ were silent for a moment; clearly, it was hard for them to imagine the concept of billions of years.

”Back to the point, I didn’t expect that on this planet, someone would truly master the power of the keys. Interesting, very interesting.”

The voice of the black shadow was full of interest, seemingly not too disappointed by the failure to suppress the Black Rose.

The Third Generation Miller immediately thought of the anomaly just now and hurriedly informed the other party of the situation.

”Not surprising, since she has mastered such power, it’s inevitable that these keys would gravitate towards her.”

”Messenger, could you explain to us what exactly are the ’keys’?” Patriarch Xie asked steadily.

”It’s not impossible; for some reason, I feel a strong urge to pour out my thoughts at this moment.”

The black shadow turned two circles, lightly turned its palm, and nearly ten keys began to rotate around its palm in a rule-based manner, exactly as they had just now.

”Let me think, where should I start? Let’s start with the largest maintenance organization in our universe, the Civilization Council.”

”The Civilization Council is an enormous entity advocated by the Six Great Nine-level Civilizations and joined by more than half of the civilizations in the universe. Its sole purpose is to shelter civilizations, or rather, to let civilizations develop as much as possible.”

”However, this has nothing to do with the secular meaning of morality. For example, if you used a star system clamp to destroy a star system, killing countless indigenous beings, but as long as there are no signs of civilization development in that star system, the Cosmic Civilization Council will not adjudge you guilty of war crimes. From their perspective, at least, you are innocent.”

”To give another example, say you developed a dangerous virus that is highly contagious, and life on planet after planet was killed under the influence of the virus. But as long as the virus does not damage the foundation of this civilization, and even forces this civilization onto a new evolutionary path never taken before, you are not only innocent, but the Cosmic Civilization Council might even issue you an evolution gentleman award.”

”So, aside from its cosmic authority, you probably get what kind of organization it is.”

”As long as it doesn’t involve civilization, you may conduct operations like genocide, ethical mutation, etc., but once it involves civilization, even advanced civilizations must proceed with caution. Because if the punishment of the cosmic will descends, it will not exempt you simply because you are an advanced civilization.”

The black shadow clasped its hands together, and the keys disappeared.

”So back to the point, does the Mechanical Split Star, this planet, have civilization?”

”Yes, not only that, but there are three, right? Quite a few among you were born from the Civilization Era; in that case, does the Mother City destroying the three major civilization regimes and creating the Cyber Test Field classify as a form of war between civilizations?”

”If it’s a war between civilizations, then it falls under the jurisdiction of the Cosmic Civilization Council?” Third Generation Miller said.

”Correct, but you didn’t consider three points,” the black shadow paused, then continued:

”First, these three ancient civilizations were actually developed and grown under the secret manipulation of that Level 7 Civilization. They can be understood as sub-civilizations, symbiotic civilizations, thus bypassing ’civilization war’, especially the big label of ’advanced civilizations’ bullying ’low-level civilizations’.”

”Second, the Mother City did not destroy these three civilizations. It only destroyed the three civilizations’ regimes. The technology tree of the three civilizations has instead developed faster in this Cyber Era.”

”Third, it still gave the civilization opportunities for development on different routes. This is the point that the Cosmic Civilization Council values most, and this opportunity is the twelve keys in your hands.”

”Keys?” Patriarch Xie was momentarily stunned, then revealed a thoughtful expression.

”The simplest example, a Half-Mechanical Civilization, is not necessarily a ’Transformer Civilization’; it could be a ’Mechanician Civilization’ or a ’Spaceship Civilization’. But it just happens to be a ’Transformer Civilization’; such interference is not allowed in the Cosmic Civilization Council because evolving the same civilization type, aside from wasting cosmic resources, is pointless.”

”Of course, rules are rules, and specific operations are specific operations, especially for some advanced civilizations. The Cosmic Council is still willing to be lenient, just to save face. It may turn a blind eye; thus, theoretically, each Cyber Test Field has a dormant overturning force beneath the surface. Once controlled, it can even overthrow the Cyber Test Field, evolving into a more advanced civilization.”

”And every owner of a Cyber Test Field would not destroy it; indeed, the Mother City turns the clues to these powers into keys and hands them over to you. The hope is that one day, you will master this power and overthrow the Mother City.”

By the end of the sentence, the tone of the black shadow carried noticeably more mockery.

”The Messenger overestimates us. How could a group of civilizational traitors have the ambition to reboot civilization?” The Third Generation Miller lowered his posture greatly.

The ’main races’ on-site also revealed a sudden realization.

No wonder the Mother City would hand over the keys to them; the reason lies here.

Having tasted the ’super bliss’ of civilization destruction and heritage siphoning, which Cloud Nobility would painstakingly forge a civilization from scratch again, especially under the eyes of the Mother City.

This is an explanation given to the Cosmic Civilization Council.

But it is merely an explanation.

Who would have thought that someone could truly reignite ’civilization’?

”Mr. Emissary, I want to know whether Lady Black Rose is aware of this matter, and what kind of civilization power does she possess?”

”If she didn’t know, her transaction wouldn’t be the last ’Bionic Man Key’.”

The Black Shadow laughed:

”Now everyone understands why I let her go so easily.”

The crowd remained silent, to reignite civilization, overthrowing the Mother City is necessary, thus in terms of stance, that Lady Black Rose is even more resolute than they are.

However, from their perspective, this kind of ’resoluteness’ carries a somewhat ironic tone.

”So, where does her power come from?” Patriarch Xie seemed particularly persistent about this question.

The Black Shadow twisted his neck, and his figure instantly plunged underground.

But suddenly, a voice echoed in Patriarch Xie’s ear.

”Is it the civilization of gods or the god of civilization, that is indeed a question.”

Patriarch Xie’s face stiffened, as if he had thought of something, he swiftly fell silent.

...

After the Main Race Meeting ended, these nearly ten family heads were invited in name, but in reality, were detained in the Cloud City.

Among them, a ’main race’ was grooming his beast girl maid when he heard a servant reporting.

”Him, let him in.”

Soon, a middle-aged man with blue skin was ushered in, respectfully saying:

”Mr. Scott.”

This Scott was the first of the main races to refute the Black Shadow in the ’Main Race Meeting’, and he was the patron behind Flasuo. It was due to his arrangements that Flasuo became a Colonial Governor of some star system, and after completing his term, he formed the Security Corps in the Iron Sand Desert, ostensibly to maintain regional security, but in reality, to retire and occasionally do private work for the other side.

”Oh, Flasuo, heard things are not going well for you down there,” Scott said nonchalantly.

”Not exactly well, but not exactly bad either, just life as it is, but Mr. Scott, your situation shouldn’t be too good either,” Flasuo asked boldly.

Scott was stunned for a moment, then suddenly narrowed his eyes, and the entire palace space was dyed black.

Although he appeared to be weak in front of the ’Emissary’, it was due to the opponent’s identity and position. As for Scott himself, he is someone who underwent three Forbidden Transformations, with at least ten small interstellar pirate groups under his command, notorious throughout the Star Domain. It was only because the other person was his old subordinate that he didn’t kill him at first sight.

”Flasuo, some things are not meant for people of your level to partake in!” Scott said coldly.

”Participating is death, not participating is also death, since it’s all the same, why not choose a better way to die,” Flasuo said with a bitter smile, seemingly indifferent to the other’s actions.

These words struck a chord with Scott, whose expression fluctuated for a while before he finally spoke: ”Tell me who is behind you, and I will consider whether to talk to them.”

Flasuo, energized, immediately said:

”It’s the new minister of the Ghost in the Shell Mobile Division, Minister G!”

Scott frowned slightly, reluctantly saying: ”Still acceptable.”

Seeing this, Flasuo hurriedly added:

”This Minister G is Lady Black Rose’s lover.”

Scott’s expression changed, and he said seriously: ”So it turns out he is Lady Rose’s lover. That was my oversight, someone, bring a seat!”

”...” Flasuo.

These days, even ministers need to rely on their looks to succeed, he’s truly lost without blame.